Sterilizer.



W. H. RIPLEY.

STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 9H.

' 1,266,052. Patented May14,1918.

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STERHJZER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9 uml 1,266,052. PatentedMay 14, 1918.

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1,266,052, Patented May14,1918l 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WIN/5555 INVENTORE QM o 'mmiz //w ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT UFFIGE.

WILLIAM H. RIPLEY, 0F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROMET I-IEU'S ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STERILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14:, 1918.

Application filed April 9, 1917. Serial No. 160,828.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H; RIPLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Orange, Essex county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sterilizers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sterilizers of the type adapted to be used for sterilizing, heating or drying articles used for surgical or medicinal purposes, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which will be eificient in use, and simple in construction and operation.

One of the features of the invention is to provide a sterilizer in which the sterilizing medium is introduced into the lower portion of the sterilizing compartment whereby it will be caused to pass upwardly therein, thereby coming into intimate contact with th articles to be treated.

Another feature is to provide means for introducing the steam into the sterilizing compartment in the form of a broad stream.

Another feature is to provide the valve which controls the flow of steam into the sterilizing compartment with a valve member which may be removed for cleaning or other purposes.

' Another feature is to provide means for introducing water into the water and steam compartment of the sterilizer to replace the loss of water due to the generation of steam without interrupting the operation of the sterilizer.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in the then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention Figure l is an end view of the sterilizer;

Fig. 2 is a similar view parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a plan view, partly in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a part of the sterilizer, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the valve actuating mechanlsm.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the valve details shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings the sterilizer is shown as comprising a lower section 10 and an upper section 11 removably seated thereon. Inclosed within the base portion 12 of the lower section 10 is a suitable electrical heater, not shown, provided with terminals 13 to permit of its being connected to a suitable source of electric current.

The upper section 11 is provided with a compartment 14: extending downwardly from the top thereof and adapted to receive the articles which are to be sterilized, dried or heated. The walls and the bottom of the compartment 14 are spaced from the walls and the bottom of the upper section 11 to form a chamber 15 which, together with the chamber 16 formed by the walls of the lower section 10, constitute a water and steam compartment, the water being received within the chamber 16 and heated by the electric heater in the base portion 12.

The compartment 14 is provided with a narrow opening 17 adjacent its bottom and extending substantially throughout the length of the compartment. A tubular valve casing 18, having one end supported in a socket 19 and its other end supported by a bracket 20, is so positioned as to project slightly into'the opening 17 and is provided with outlet ports 21 communicating with the interior of the compartment 14:, and an inlet port 22 communicating with the compartment 15, 16 surrounding the compartment 1 1.

Rotatably supported within the tubular valve casing is a removable tubular valve member 23 provided with a handle 24 and having a longitudinally extending port 25 adapted, when the valve member is in one of its positions, to register with the inlet and outlet ports 22 and 21 in the valve casing 18, to permit steam to pass into the compartment 14:. When the Valve member 23 is rotated to occupy its other position the wall thereof will register with and close the outlet ports 21 in the valve casing 18 thereby preventing steam from entering the compartment 14.

Keyed to the valve member 23 and positioned between the wall of the compartment 14 and the wall of the sterilizer is an annular member 26 provided with an arm 27 having its free end connected by a link 28 to an arm 29 secured to a disk valve 30. The disk valve 30 is rotatably supported upon the wall of the sterilizer and is provided with openings 31 adapted to be moved into and out of register with similarly shaped openings 32 formed in the sterilizer wall and communicating with the compartment 15. 16.

It will be understood that as the tubular valve member 23 is rotated the disk valve 30 will also be rotated and the parts are so arranged that when the valve member 23 is in position to permit steam to pass into the compartment 14 the disk valve 30 will be rotated to move the openings 31 therein out of register with the openings 32 in the sterilizer wall, thereby preventing the steam from escaping from the compartment; 15, 16. When the valve member 23 is rotated to prevent the passage of steam into the compartment 14 the disk valve 30 will be rotated to cause the openings 31 therein to register with the openings 32, thereby permitting the steam to pass out of the sterilizer.

Secured to the valve member 23 is a disk bearing a mark 34 adapted to be brought into registry with either one of two marks 35 and 36 on an annular plate 37 secured to the wall of the sterilizer in order to indicate to the operator the positions of the valve member 23 and the valve 30. Adjacent the mark 35 the word Steam is inscribed upon the plate 37 and adjacent the mark 36 thewords Hot air are inscribed. *When the handle 24 of the valve member 23 is rotated to bring the mark 34 on the disk 33 into register with the mark 35 on the plate 37 the valve member 23 will be in its open position and the valve 30 closed whereby steam is admitted into the compartment 14 to efi'ect the sterilizing of articles contained therein. Upon rotating the handle 24 to cause the mark 34 to register with the mark 36, the valve member 23 is closed and the valve 30 opened and the steam, instead of passing into the compartment 14, will escape through the openings 32 in the wall of the sterilizer thereby insuring that the compartment 14 will be filled with hot air free from moisture whereby articles contained therein may be heated or dried.

The disk 33 is provided with a projection 38 normally positioned beneath the plate 37 to prevent longitudinal movement of the valve member 23. If it is desired to remove the valve member 23 for cleaning or other purposes, the same is rotated by the handle 24 until the projection 38 is brought into register with a correspondingly shaped notch 39 formed in the plate 37 after which the valve member 23 may be withdrawn from the valve casing 18. A curved bracket 40 engages the under surface of the annular member 26 and holds the same against movement when the valve member 23 is withdrawn so that it will be in its proper position to receive the valve member 23, when the latter is replaced within the valve casing 18.

The sterilizer is provided with a hinged cover 41 which serves as a closure for the compartment 14 when the apparatus is in use, and the cover is provided with a vent normally closed by a hinged cap 43 which acts as a safety valve in case the pressure of the steam within the compartment 14 should exceed a predetermined value. Any water of condensation which may form within the cap 43 or the vent 42 will be returned into the compartment 14.

In order to prevent water of condensation from ren'iaining within the compartment 14 a water trap 44 is provided at the bottom thereof which permits the escape therefrom or the water of condensation but prevents steam from passing therein.

Secured to the wall of the sterilizer and. registering with the openings 32 therein is a tunnel member 45 the purpose of which is to permit water to be poured into the sterilizer 12 through the holes 32, the valve 30 being in its open position, to replace the water which has been transformed into steam. By this means the supply of water within the sterilizer may be maintained constant without necessitating the removal of the upper portion 11 from the lower portion 10 and therefore without interrupting the sterilizing or drying processes.

A suitable tray or rack, not shown, is provided for supporting the articles to be treated within the compartment 14.

In operation when the apparatus is used for sterilizing purposes, the handle 24 is rotated to move the valve member 23 into its open position and to close the valve 30 whereupon steam will pass from the com partment 15, 16 into the compartment 14 through the opening 17 at the bottom thereof and as it rises within the compartment 14 it will come into intimate contact with the articles to be sterilized which are supported upon the tray.

If the apparatus is used for heating or drying purposes the handle 24 is rotated to move the valve member 23 into its closed position and to open the valve 30 thereby insuring that the air within the compart ment 14: will be kept free from moisture and will be thoroughly heated by the steam circulating within the compartment 15, 16.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A sterilizer comprising a compartment to receive the articles to be treated, a water and steam compartment, a valve to permit and steam compartment surrounding said first-named compartment, a valve to permit steam to pass trom said water and steam compartment into said first-named compart ment adjacent the lower portion thereof, a second valve to permit steam to escape from said water and steam compartment adjacent the upper portion thereof, and

means operatively connected to said valves to open one of said valves upon the closing of the other of said valves, and vice versa, substantially as specified.

3. A sterilizer comprising a compartment to receive the articles to be treated, a water and steam compartment, a valve to permit steam to pass from said water and steam compartment into said first-named compartment, said valve comprising a valve casing and a valve member removably p0- sitioned therein, a second valve to permit steam to escape from said waterand steam compartment, and means connecting said valve member to said second valve to open. the same as said first-named valve is closed, and vice versa, said means being detachably connected to said valve member whereby the latter may be removed from said valve casing, substantially as specified.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, this 5th day of April, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen.

WILLIAM H. RIPLEY. lVitnesses WVILLJAM P. JONES, v JOSEPH Gr. QUINN, Jr. 7

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

